~ What ships are for…

Finding a job in the post education world

My son, the superstar senior, is having difficulty finding work in the post-education world. He succeeded beyond our wildest dreams in high school. He graduated first in his class in a small high school (a graduating class of 73). He was a superstar senior in the local newspaper. He played the xylophone, marimba, chimes, and bells in Marching Band for four years. He scored a 28 on the ACT. His grade point average was a 3.96. His school did not offer or consider weighted grades (that was for his sister), but he took the hardest classes offered. He did not take anatomy and physiology because he didn’t want to dissect a cat. He has a very soft heart for animals that we have as pets. He gave the speech, after much labored practice, before his graduating class.

He went to college at our local Christian college with substantial scholarships. He graduated Magna Cum Laude. While at the college, he played in the symphonic winds all but one semester. He had a friend in college, Steve, whom he met during orientation. Steve was a friend all through college. Overall, college was a very positive experience.

Now it has been six months since he graduated and he has not found a job in his field of study. This is very upsetting for both him and us. He worries that he may not be able to find a job, any job, because he has had help all the way through college, and also getting the jobs that he has had.

He worked with his father, my husband, at a warehouse his first two years of college. He was a very diligent and hard worker.His father helped him get that job.

He got a job in food service the last two years of college, with the help of the disability services director. He was diligent and punctual in this job. He always looked for additional things to do.

He worked at the local state university as an “intern.” This was arranged by the local state rehabilitation agency.

The problem is that he so far has not been hired by anyone that has interviewed him. He has an excellent resume, an excellent academic record, and excellent work record. And he wonders, and I wonder too, if he will be able to get a job on his own. Will he be able to succeed in his field of study?

There are extenuating circumstances: The economy is awful – they call it the “Great Recession.” It turns out that his field is highly competitive.

But the big question is, is it because of autism. Somehow, his mannerisms and tendency to talk to much are off putting. So we worry. I know that we need to be anxious for nothing. To lay it before the Lord. Father, help my son to find a job in his field…a job close to home…that he can drive to. Father, help him. Help him. Don’t we all have help?